THE National Occupational Health and Safety Service today confirmed that asbestos-containing material was identified at the old CWM nursing quarters but posed no threat to the health and safety of the surrounding, stakeholders and general public.
The service under the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations made the confirmation in a Government statement released earlier this afternoon.
“The asbestos identified in the old quarters is intact and well-contained within the building premises and does not pose any threat to the health and safety of the public,” said Minister for Employment Jone Usamate said in the statement.
“Independent air monitoring results from the Consultant revealed that there were no airborne asbestos fibres found around the environment and within the surrounding vicinity,” Mr Usamate said.
The Ministry has also issued a prohibition notice to the contractor conducting works at the site – which is currently at a standstill.
The statement added that the remaining removal and disposal process will be undertaken in line with the Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos and international best practices to safely remove and dispose the asbestos-containing material.
Mr Usamate said the ministry will supervise each phase of the removal and disposal process in accordance with the Code of Practice and the Asbestos Removal Control Plan so that any risks of asbestos exposure was eliminated or suitably controlled and minimided to an insignificant level.
Continuous independent air monitoring will be conducted by the National OHS Service to ensure that there is no air borne fibers present in the environment and within the surrounding vicinity.
The old CWM nursing quarters was built in the early 1970’s and the use of asbestos was common in most buildings constructed or renovated at that time.
